The primary social concerns of All the Pretty Horses seem to center on marriages and the love relationship between John Grady Cole and Alejandra.

John Grady Cole's parents are divorced because his father loves the rugged lifestyle of a cowboy on a ranch, whereas his mother is an aspiring actress who craves the culture, refinement, and sophistication of life in the city. This same male/female dichotomy is exemplified in Alejandra's parents.

Her parents are not divorced, but her father, Don Hector Rocha, spends much of his time at his ranch while his wife remains in Mexico City.

Although John Grady Cole and Alejandra fall passionately in love, there are tensions in their relationship that eventually break it apart. There are potentially ulterior motives for the relationship on both sides. Alejandra may partly wish to rebel against her father and her grandaunt, the Duena Alfonsa. And...